4.7 Crossings

A variety of uncontrolled crossings can allow cyclists and pedestrians to stop and cross the main traffic safely. These include solutions that passively reduce traffic speeds and/or address the crossing as a two-stage process. Cyclists and pedestrians must wait for a suitable gap in the traffic before crossing.

The volume and speed of traffic on the main road will influence the choice of these solutions. Heavier traffic and higher speeds will generally require controlled crossings – see below.

Cycle Lane and Pinch Point

• Gateway treatment / traffic calming
• May be appropriate to sensitive local destinations (schools, libraries etc.)
• Consider also shuttle-working treatment (see Traffic Management Guidelines)
• Cyclist segregated and unimpeded
• Minimum cycle lane width to assist maintenance

Cycle Track and Two-Stage Crossing

• Uncontrolled Pedestrian crossing
• Not particularly good as gateway, since carriageway each side of central island is 5m wide
• Cyclists ramped back to road level, to assist pedestrian crossing
• Sufficient width so that cyclists not squeezed by central pedestrian island

Off-Road Cycle Track and Two-Stage Crossing

• Two-stage uncontrolled pedestrian & cycle crossing
• Not suitable near signalised junctions
• Important that central island does not facilitate direct (one-stage) cycle crossing attempts
• Dimensions of island are minimum – where there is higher cycle crossing demand, consider larger central island (for stacking, movement) or signalised Toucan crossing (no island)
• Clearly sign pedestrian priority area across cycle tracks, and design cycle approach with this in mind – short ramp, transverse warning lines on cycle track (not shown)

Two-Way Off-Road Cycle Track and Two-Stage Crossing

• Two-stage uncontrolled pedestrian & cycle crossing
• Not suitable near signalised junctions
• Important that central island does not facilitate direct (one-stage) cycle crossing attempts
• Dimensions of island are minimum – where there is higher cycle crossing demand, consider larger central island (for stacking, movement) or signalised Toucan crossing (no island)
• Clearly sign pedestrian priority area across cycle tracks, and design cycle approach with this in mind – short ramp, transverse warning lines on cycle track (not shown)

Controlled crossings facilitate cyclists and pedestrians by allowing them to stop traffic on the main road. Signals, activated automatically or by push button units will stop the traffic and give cyclists and pedestrians sufficient time to cross the road safely.

Cycle Lane with Pelican Crossing

• Cycle lane approach to zebra crossing
• Solid line on cycle lane replaced with zig-zag
• Maintain red surface, for legibility (so as not to confuse with car parking)

Cycle Track with Pelican Crossing

• Cycle track approach to zebra crossing
• Re-establish cycles at road level in advance of zebra crossing, to facilitate smooth pedestrian crossing
• Solid line on cycle track replaced with zig-zag
• Maintain red surface, for legibility (so as not to confuse with car parking)

Cycle Lane with Toucan Crossing

• Crossing shared by cyclists and pedestrians – pedestrians retain priority over cyclists
• Appropriate where cycle track / cycle way / cycle trail crosses road at isolated location away from junctions
• Push button units located for pedestrians as standard
• Additional push buttons located for cyclists convenience – bicycle detection (loops, passive IR etc.) may be more appropriate
• Clear signage required on cycle track of approaching crossing
• Shared pedestrian priority area should be minimum of 5m wide from end of cycle track to edge of road, with sufficient sight triangles, to give time for traffic and cyclists to see each other
• Spaced bollards may be required at end of cycle track on entry to shared cycle pedestrian area, to slow cyclists, for additional legibility
• Signal clusters as per Traffic Signs Manual

Cycle Track with Toucan Crossing

• Crossing shared by cyclists and pedestrians – pedestrians retain priority over cyclists
• Cycle track brought to road level to facilitate smooth pedestrian crossing
• Appropriate where cycle track / cycle way / cycle trail crosses road at isolated location away from junctions
• Push button units located for pedestrians as standard
• Additional push buttons located for cyclists convenience – bicycle detection (loops, passive IR etc.) may be more appropriate
• Clear signage required on cycle track of approaching crossing
• Shared pedestrian priority area should be minimum of 5m wide from end of cycle track to edge of road, with sufficient sight triangles, to give time for traffic and cyclists to see each other
• Spaced bollards may be required at end of cycle track on entry to shared cycle pedestrian area, to slow cyclists, for additional legibility
• Signal clusters as per Traffic Signs Manual

Cycle Way with Toucan Crossing

• Toucan (shared cycle and pedestrian) crossing of minor road (mixed cycling with traffic – no cycle lanes) – pedestrians retain priority over cyclists
• Appropriate where cycle track / cycle way / cycle trail crossed road at isolated location away from junctions
• Push button units located for pedestrians as standard
• Additional push buttons located for cyclists convenience – bicycle detection (loops, passive IR etc.) may be more appropriate
• Clear signage required on cycle track of approaching crossing
• Shared pedestrian priority area should be minimum of 5m wide from end of cycle track to edge of road, with sufficient sight triangles, to give time for traffic and cyclists to see each other
• Spaced bollards may be required at end of cycle track on entry to shared cycle pedestrian area, to slow cyclists, for additional legibility
• Signal clusters as per Traffic Signs Manual